Japanese Judo Vocabulary

Principles of Judo


Ju

Do

Judo

Seiryoku Zenyo

Jita Kyoei
the principle of gentleness, yielding, or giving way

way, path, or principle

the gentle way

maximum efficiency (through minimum effort)

mutual benefit and welfare


General Vocabulary



Sensei

Dojo

Gi (Judogi)

Seiza

Anza

Ritsurei

Zarei

Kiotsuke!

Rei!

Sensei Ni Rei!

Uke

Tori

Ukemi

Uchi Komi

Randori

Kiai


teacher or instructor

place or club where Judo is practiced

Judo uniform

kneeling position

sitting position with legs crossed

standing bow

kneeling bow

(come to) attention!

bow!

bow! (to Sensei)

person receiving a judo technique

person performing a judo technique

falling practice (side, back, forward)

repetition practice without throwing

free practice

shout during execution of technique




Gripping, Posture and Throwing Principles



Kumi Kata

Shizen Hontai

Jigo Hontai (Jigotai)

Tsugi Ashi

Tai Sabaki

Kuzushi

Tsukuri

Kake


methods of gripping an opponent fundamental natural posture

fundamental defensive posture

sliding foot walking (kata technique) pivoting or turning the body

off balance (first element of a throw)

entry into a throw

execution of a throw




Vocabulary Related to Names of Judo Techniques



Ashi

Barai

Dori

Dojime

Eri

Gaeshi (Kaeshi)

Gake


foot or leg (as in Okuri-Ashi-Harai)

sweeping action with the leg or foot (as in Deashi-Barai)

grab (as in Kata-Ashi-Dori)

body scissors/squeeze (illegal in competition)

lapel of the Judo gi (as in Okuri-Eri-Jime)

counter or reversal (as in Sumi-Gaeshi)

hook (as in Ko-Soto-Gake)



Garami

Gari

Gatame

Goshi (Koshi)

Guruma

Gyaku

Ha

Hane

Hara

Harai (Barai)

Hadaka

Hidari

Hiji

Hineri

Hishigi

Hiza

Hon

Jigoku

Juji

Jime (Shime)

Kaeshi (Gaeshi)

Kami

Kata

Kesa

Kibisu

Ko

Komi

Koshi (Goshi)

Kote

Kuzure

Makikomi

Makura

Mata

Migi

Morote

Mune

Nami

O

Obi

Okuri

Otoshi

Ryote

Sankaku (Sangaku)

Sasae

Seoi

Shiho



entangle or twist (as in Ude-Garami)

reap or sweep (as in Osoto-Gari)

pin or (joint) lock (as in Kata-Gatame or Ude-Gatame)

hip (as in 0-Goshi)

wheel (as in Kata-Guruma)

reverse (as in Gyaku-Juji-Jime)

wing (as in Kata-Ha-Jime)

springing action (as in Hane-Goshi)

stomach (as in Hara-Gatame)

sweeping action with the leg or foot (as in Harai-Goshi)

naked (as in Hadaka-Jime)

left (as in Hidari-Eri-Dori in Goshin-Jitsu-No-Kata)

elbow (as in Hiji-Makikomi, kansetsu-waza)

twisting (as in Kote-Hineri in Goshin-Jitsu-No-Kata)

crush (as in Ude-Hishigi-Wake-Gatame)

knee (as in Hiza-Guruma)

basic or fundamental (as in Hon-Kesa-Gatame)

hell (as in Jigoku-Jime)

cross (as in Juji-Gatame)

choke or strangle (as in Hadaka-Jime)

counter or reversal (as in Kaeshi-Waza)

upper (as in Kami-Shiho-Gatame)

single or shoulder (as in Kata-Juji-Jime or Kata-Gatame)

scarf (as in Kesa-Gatame)

heel (as in Kibisu-Gaeshi)

minor (as in Ko-Soto-Gari)

pull (as in Tsuri-Komi-Goshi)

hip (as in Koshi-Guruma)

wrist (as in Kote-Gaeshi in Goshin-Jitsu-No-Kata)

variation (as in Kuzure-Kesa Gatame)

winding (as in Uchi-Makikomi)

pillow (as in Makura-Kesa-Gatame)

thigh (as in Uchi-Mata)

right (as in Migi-Eri-Dori in Goshin-Jitsu-No-Kata)

two-handed (as in Morote-Gari)

chest (as in Mune-Gatame)

normal (as in Nami-Juji-Jime)

major (as in O-Goshi)

Judo belt (as in Obi-Goshi)

sliding (as in Okuri-Eri-Jime)

to drop (as in Tani-Otoshi)

two handed (as in Ryote-Jime)

triangle (as in Sankaku-Gatame)

blocking (as in Sasae-Tsuri-Komi-Ashi)

shoulder (as in Ippon-Seoi-Nage)

four corners (as in Kami-Shiho-Gatame)



Shime (Jime)

Sode

Soto

Sukashi

Sukui

Sumi

Tai

Tate

Te

Tomoe

Tsuki

Tsuri

Uchi

Ude

Uki

Ura

Ushiro

Utsuri

Wake

Yoko


choke or strangle (as in Shime Waza)

sleeve (as in Sode-Tsuri-Komi-Goshi)

outer or outside (as in Soto-Makikomi)

counter or evasion (as in Uchi-Mata-Sukashi)

scoop (as in Sukui-Nage)

corner (as in Sumi-Otoshi)

body (as in Tai-Otoshi)

straddle (as in Tate-Shiho-Gatame)

hand (as in Te-Guruma)

circle (as in Tomoe-Nage)

thrusting (as in Tsuki-komi-Jime)

lift (as in Harai-Tsuri-Komi-Ashi)

inner (as in 0-Uchi-Gari)

arm (as in Ude-Gatami)

floating (as in Uki-Goshi)

back (as in Ura-Nage)

reverse or rear (as in Ushiro-Kesa-Gatame)

change or transfer (as in Utsuri-Goshi)

armpit (as in Wake-Gatame)

side (as in Yoko-Shiho-Gatame)



Tournament Vocabulary (! Refers to referee verbal calls)



Shiai

Hajime!

Matte!

Sore Made!

Sono Mama!

Yoshi!

Ippon!


Waza Ari!


Waza Ari Awasete Ippon!



Yuko!



Koka!


Shido!



Hansokumake!

Hantei!

Hiki Wake!

Kohaku

Tentori


tournament-style competition

start! or begin! competition (shiai or randori)

stop! (whatever you are doing)

end of match! (announced after ippon or end of match time)

freeze! (hold your position in Ne-Waza)

resume! (resume grappling)

full point score (wins match) from single throw, two Waza-

Aris, pin for 25 sec, submission from choke or armlock, or

opponents hansokumake (direct penalty or 4th shido)

half point score (numerical score) from single throw,

pin >20 sec, or opponents 3rd shido

Waza Ari+Waza Ari = Ippon (full point score wins match)

from 2 throws or 3 opponent shidos+Waza-Ari

score (less than Waza-Ari) from single throw, pin > 15 sec,

or opponents 2nd shido. Yukos accumulate (no points)

score (less than Yuko) from single throw, pin > l0 sec,

or opponents 1st shido. Kokas accumulate (no points)

minor penalty (1st shido scores Koka for opponent, 2nd shido scores Yuko for opponent, 3rd shido scores Waza-Ari for opponent, 4th shido is hansokumake and scores ippon for opponent. Opponent's scores for penalties are not cumulative: only one Koka/Yuko/Waza-Ari is scored)

major penalty (match forfeit, ejection from shiai if direct)

decision (referee and judges vote with flags, majority wins)

draw (no winner)

"winner stays up form of shiai

elimination form of shiai



Japanese Ordinal Numbers


Ichi (Sho)

Ni

San

Shi (Yo/Yon)

Go

Roku

Shichi

Hachi

Ku

Ju


1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

l0


Ju Ichi

Ju Ni

Ju San

Ju Shi (Ju Yon)

Ju Go

Ju Roku

Ju Shichi (Ju Nana)

Ju Hachi

Ju Ku

Niju


11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20




Judo Ranking/Classification System




Yonen

Shonen

Seinen

Mudansha

Yudansha

Kyu

Dan


junior Judo students under 13 yrs of age (no chokes or joint locks)

junior Judo students 13-16 yrs of age (no joint locks)

senior Judo students 17+ yrs of age (no joint locks below Sankyu)

undergraduate Judo students (sub-black belt ranks)

graduate Judo students (black belt ranks)

class (grades of sub-black belt ranks)

step (grades of black belt ranks)



Senior Mudansha Rank


Belt Color




Rokyu

Gokyu

Yonkyu

Sankyu

Nikyu

Ikkyu


White

White

White

Brown

Brown

Brown




Senior Yudansha Rank


Belt Color




Shodan

Nidan

Sandan

Yodan

Godan

Rokudan

Shichidan

Hachidan

Kudan

Judan


Black

Black

Black

Black

Black

Black or Red/White

Black or Red/White

Black or Red/White

Black or Red

Black or Red


This vocabulary list was created by Alain Wilkinson, Encino Judo Club (http://JudoInfo.com/ejc.htm). This web page is copyright © 2003 by Neil Ohlenkamp, Judo Information Site at http://JudoInfo.com, USA. All rights reserved. Last modified April 12, 2003.